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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. CLOSE.

MACHINE FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Patented Feb. 25, 1890.

NJETENS, PhoQo-Lilhcgmphor. Washingmn u. c,

3 Sheets Sh eet 2.

(No Model.) J. W. CLOSE. MACHINE POE RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. N0. 421.908.Patented Feb. 25. 1890 wgmssas: INVENTOR flaw m' a... @zmwM 7Q ATTORNEYN. PETERS. PlfaloLithogrnpbar, Washington. D. Q

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a. J. W. CLOSE. MACHINE FOR RAILWAYUONSTRUGTION. No. 421,908; Patented Feb. 25,1890.

IIIIIIIIIJ Wviwwesses; Iwve HID?- mxam WWW/M )2!" my N. PETER5.Phololilhagrnphar. Washingwn, u c.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CLOSE, OF BUFFALO, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN C.GRAVES, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,908, dated February25, 1890.

Application filed July 18, 1881. Serial No. 88,011- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN WVHITNEY CLOSE, of the city of Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machinery for Railway Construction; and I herebydeclare that the followingis a full, clear, and eX- act description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

' The object of my invention is to construct a railway spiking-machinewith a steam-engine attached to propel the machine on the railway-track,and also to operate the machine. I attain this object by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 representsa vertical transverse section of my improved spike-driving machine online 00 w of Fig. 5, with the driver, cams, and atmospheric cylinderremoved from one side. Fig. 2 is a top view of the receptacle forholding the spikes. Fig. 3 is a top view of the atmospheric cylindersand a part of the counter-shaft with the cams attached thereon. Fig. 4,Nos. 1, 2, and 3, are detached sectional views of the spike holders andguides located at the lower ends of the spike-conveyers. Fig. 5 is aside elevation, partly in section, of the entire machine. Fig. 6 is anenlarged detached view of the spike-catching cylinder, representing thebeveled slots for catching the spikes; and Fig. 7 is a top view of thesame cylinder, showing the beveling of the slots from outside to insideof the cylinder. Fig. 8 is a top view of the steam-cylinder, coverdetached, showing the jaws at each corner for receiving and connectingboth the lifter-hook rods, the brake-rods, and the belttightener rodsthereon. A top view of the spike-catching cylinder is also representedon this view with piston-rod in the center. Figs. 9 to 14. are views indetail.

Similar-1e tters refer to similar parts thro ughout the several views.

The three floors 0r bearers H H H and vertical braces P P P, with thehangers P P constitute the frame-work of the machine. Secured under thelower floor are the jaws P P, on which the frame is mounted, with thejaws resting 011 the journal of the axle-tree. In the hangers P turnsthe shaft N, Fig. 5, which is driven by the crank N and operated by thecylinder E The counter-shaft N receives its motion from shaft N, whichin the drawings is represented by the double' crank N and eccentricattached to main shaft. To the countershaft I secure the cams a a a,Figs. 1 and 3, which operate the drivers a n n by revolw ing and comingin contact with the pivots 02 :0, Fig. 1, secured to the drivers, andthus the drivers are forced up by the cams; and, to reenforce or addgreater rapidity to the descending drivers, I place coil-springs O 0around the drivers, which are pressed up and against the floor by thecams.

The pistons inside of the atmospheric cylinders B B 13 are secured tothe drivers and compress the air as the drivers are being forced up bythe cams, and as soon as the cams release the pivots the drivers, by theaid of the vacuum and compressed airformed in the cylinder, combinedwith the expansion of the springs, impart a swift and powerful stroke tothe drivers and give the desired blow to drive the spike.

To prevent the drivers breaking the thin flange of the rail, as the headof the spike is being driven down onto it, I place regulators or stops a(L2, Fig. 1, on the drivers, with the additional steps a a at the lowerend of the drivers, and that part of the regulators which comes incontact with the rail I cushion wlth rubber, wood, leather, or any otherelastic material that will prevent marring or breaking the rail. Ifpreferred,the atmospheric cylinders'may be converted intosteam-cylinders, and the drivers operated by steam in the wellknownmanner of stean1-hammers, or they may receive power from the air-pump E,operated by the main engine. The drivers in being raised may form avacuum below the piston or may be raised up against compressed air,coil, or elliptic, or any other kind of spring, by hand or any knownmotive power.

The steam-cylinder B, Fig. 1, is operated by the steam passing from theboiler II, Fig. 1, through the steam-pipe L and the hollow piston-rod a.The piston-rod I supply with the opening (3, which permits the steam toenter into the interior of the cylinder, just above thestationarypiston, and the piston and piston-rod may be cast or forged in one andthe same piece. The lower end of the piston-rod I secure to the frame orfloor with bolts. The spike-Catching cylinder or ring 13, I attach tothe upper end of the steam-cyh inder B either by being cast in one andthe same piece, or they maybe made separate and bolted together.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: Top cylinder Bon its upward course passes through the spike-receptacle B Fig. 1, andcarries with it several of the spikes g g by engaging them as they arefound caught in the beveled slots U U, Fig. 6. The slots are fork-shapedor beveled at their upper ends to correspond with the beveled under sideof the spike-heads. I' also bevel the sides of the slots from theoutside to the inside of the cylinder, as may be seen in Fig. 7. In thismanner a recess is formed in the cylinder for the purpose of holding thespike perpendicular, the slots not being large enough to permit thespikes entering into the 'interior of the cylinder. The upper end of thecylinder I provide with a conical-shaped cover, as represented in Fig.1, which is designed to prevent the spikes entering into the interior ofthe cylinder.

EEE, Fig. 1, represent the spike-conveyors, N o. 2 being twisted so asto reverse the spikeheads before they arrive in the holders at the lowerends of the conveyers, and the bottom or inner sides of the upper .endsof the conveyers form an elastic spring A A, Figs. 1 and 12, whichpenetrate or spring into beveled slots under the pointof the spike. Thespike passes by as the cylinder makes its upward movement, and as it ismoving do Pvnward the spike is caught by the spring and by it depositedinto the conveyer, as represented in Fig. 12, a a; or, if preferred, thespring may be secured to the stationary piston-rod, as also re resentedin Fi 12 at a a and as the cvlif necessa ry-which are operated from thecylinder B by the connections P and the slotted bell-cranks X, which arepivoted in the hangers D and secured to the conveyor, as may be seen onFig. 1.

N0. 1, Fig. 4, represents a side and sectional view of thespike-holders, with a spike inclosed and the spike-driver nrestingthereon. No. 2 represents the front sectional view of the same,with the spike-driver n omitted.

In order to hold the spike upright in the holder, as seen in No. 2, Iseparate or make the holder and a part of the conveyer in halves, asmore clearly seen in No. 3, R R and NV. By this means I gain sufficientelasticity to clasp and hold the body of the spike perpendicularly whileit is being driven.

If desired, the holder could be made undivided and supplied with rubber,elliptic, spiral, or any kind of elastic springs, either by placing theminside of it, as represented in Nos. at and 5, X X X X or securing themto the outside of the holders, as seen in No. 6, X X.

To the upper fioor is secured the spike-receptacle B Fig. 1 is avertical sectional view, and Fi g. 2 is a top view, of the samedetached, representing an opening to admit the spike-catching cylinder Bto enter, and the spikes g g resting thereon. It represents, also, thespike-conveyers E E E.

Instead of the usual manner of using a le ver to hold and press the tieup and against the rail while the spikes are being driven, I employ thelifter-hooks C C, Fig. 5. The upper ends of the lifter-hook rods 0 C,which are jointed in the'upper ends of thelift-hooks, I attach. to thesteam-cylinder cover in the jaws Z Z, Figs. 1 and 8, and while thespikes are being driven the hooks grasp the tie, represented in Fig. 5.This is accomplished by the steam-cylinder as it is traveling on andguided by the piston-rod a, Fig. 1. WV'hen the hooks are pressing thetie up against the rail, as represented, the steam-cylinder is at itsheight. At the lower crossing of the hooks they are pivoted into thebraces D D, Figs. 1 and 5, and as the cylinder is descending the hooksare forced apart and raised sufficiently high to pass over the next tieto be spiked.

In practice it is usual to place the ties at a uniform distance apart,about eighteen inches from each other. Therefore it is necessary thatthe spiking-machine should be provided with an attachment or feedingapparatus that will regulate or stop at the required uniform distancesand place the drivers over the re quired position to drive the spikes.As one plan of many that could. be used for that purpose, I have placedthe brakes to the wheels K K with the brake-rods T T, as shown in Fig.5. Said brake-rods I attach to and operate by the cylinder in the samemanner as the tielifter rods are, and as above described, so that whenthe cylinder is at its height the brakerods are fully set to the wheels,as represented in Fig. 5.

The cylinder B maybe operated in the usual manner, and by any of thewell known valves and valve-gear, and, as herein represented in Fig. 1,I have attached a cylinder-valve C to the steam-pipe L, and the valve 0is connected to the cylinder B by the rod D and the valve lever C, and,as seen in the detached view,

IOO

Fig. 14, as the cylinder B is descending the valve 0' advancesover andcloses the exhaustport R and at the same time the under side of thevalve has retired from over and opened the lower port R of thesteam-pipe L, thereby permitting the steam to enter the cylinder again,and so on continue the operation of the cylinder and machine. Thatportion of the cylinder underneath the stationary piston I freely exposeto the outer air, so as to prevent vacuum or pressure retarding themotion of the cylinders.

The wheels K K, Fig. 1, as represented, are double-flanged or V-shaped,so as to act as a track-gage, and if found necessary I contemplateattaching other additional track-gages to and in front of thespiking-machine.

As represented in Fig. 5, I propel the machine by belts Q Q, which areoperated on by the belt-tighteners S S, Fig. 5, connected by the rods aa to the steam-cylinder B, and as the cylinder is descending thetightener lowers and presses against and imparts the necessary power tothe belts to turn the wheels K K, and thus move the machine to the nexttie. As the cylinder is descending both the lifterhooks and brakes aresimultaneously released, as previously stated.

The machine may be propelled on the rails, as represented in Figs. 1 and5, by the loose belts Q Q, provided with the belt-tightener S S, Fig. 5,or other suitable motive power.

The wheels K K, with the entire machine, could be manipulated in thesame manner that railroad hand-cars are by placinga crank with handlesto both ends of the main shaft N, or, instead of the crank and handles,the present style of gearing and levers could be adopted and attached toshaft N, as at present in common use on railroad-section hand-cars.Should the above plan of manipulation be preferred, it would dispensewith the cylinder E Fig. 5, and by placing an additional eccentric ordouble crank on the main shaft N, Fig. 5, with its connecting-rodleading from the eccentric to a vibrating joint connecting with thecylinder B, the steam-boiler I-I could also be dispensed with; but Iprefer the present mode I of constructing and operating a machine, as

herein specified and represented in the accompanying drawings.

The above plan of manipulating the machine just referred to anddescribed forms no part of my present invention.

I am aware that prior to my invention machines have been made withatmospheric cylinders supplied with air pu mps and coil and ellipticsprings, operating in conjunction with rotating cams. I therefore do notclaim such a combination, broadly; but

WVhat I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is as follows:

1. The combination, in a spike-driving ma chine, of a stationary piston,secured to a sta tionary hollow pistondod a, with its steam oratmospheric cylinder B and spike-catching cylinder B traveling thereonand guided thereby, having the devices for feeding the spikes to therails, belt-tightener rodsct a lifter-hook rods 0 O, and the brake-rodsT T, all connected to and operated in conjunction with steam-cylinder B,substantially as and for the purpose specified and shown.

2. The combination of the slotted spikecatching cylinder B with thespike-receptacle B and the conveyers E E E, attached thereto andprovided with spike-detaching springs A A, with the spike-holders E E,all adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a machine for driving spikes, the drivers 01 n, provided withregulators or stops a a and the additional stops a a substan tially asshown, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination and arrangement, with the spike-drivers n n, of thecushioned stops a a and a a substantially as described.

5. The lifter-hooks O O, in combination with the railway tie and railand means to drive the spikes, substantially as shown, for the purposespecified.

6. I11 a railway spiking-machine, the combination, with the catchingcylinder or ring and con veyers and hammers, of means for advancing theapparatus and stopping the same the required and uniform distance, asand for the purpose set forth.

7. In a railway spikingnnachine, the combination of the truck providedwith the gaging-wheels, of the lifters and mechanismto advance themachine the required and uniform distance, substantially as set forth.

8. In a spike-driving machine, the combination, with the catchingcylinder or ring, the

conveyers, and the hammers, of the doubleflanged wheels R R, adapted togage the track as the machine advances, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

9. In a railway spiking-machine, the combination. of a hopper, aspike-catching cylinder, slotted as described, spike-convcyers, andsuitable drivers, as set forth.

10. The combination of the steam-cylinder, the brakes, andthe describedconnections thereof with said cylinder, for the purposes set forth.

11. The combination of the steam-cylinder, the brakes, thebelt-tightener, and their described connections to the cylinder, as setforth.

12. In a track-spiking machine, the combination, with the driving hammeror hammers n, of the lifters for lifting and holding the tie to place,together with the operating and sup porting parts, substantially as setforth.

J. w. CLOSE.

